CHARLOTTE — Michelle Obama’s convention message was simple: Barack Obama understands the hardships of working Americans. He’s been there himself.

“For Barack, these issues aren’t political, they’re personal because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles,” she said.

The first lady used the word “struggle” or a variation seven times throughout the speech, much of which was an extended retelling of the Obamas’ pre-politics biography, with a special emphasis on the leaner moments before they made it big.

On the president’s upbringing: “Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.”

On their courtship: “He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.”

On their marriage: “Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage. We were so young, so in love — and so in debt.”

The problem is that the Lincolnesque portrait painted by Michelle is phony. Barack Obama did not “struggle.” For most of his early life he lived a life of privilege.

First lady Michelle Obama told the Democratic National Convention that “Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions.”

It is a claim the president has repeated in his books, on the speech-making circuit and in countless media interviews. By his account, he grew up in a broken home with a single mom, struggled for years as a child in an impoverished Third World country and then was raised by his grandparents in difficult circumstances.

The facts aren’t nearly so clear-cut.

Ann Dunham was just 18 years old when she gave birth to Obama. She was a freshman at the University of Hawaii. His Kenyan father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr., was a few years older than Ann. They were married against family wishes.

Obama Sr. does not appear to have been welcoming or compassionate toward his new wife or son. It later turned out that he was secretly married to a Kenyan woman back home at the same time he fathered the young Obama.

He abandoned Obama Jr.’s mother when the boy was 1. In 1964, Dunham filed for a divorce that was not contested. Her parents helped to raise the young Obama.

Obama’s mother met her second husband, an Indonesian named Lolo Soetoro, while working at the East-West Center in Hawaii. They married, and in 1967, the young Obama, then known as Barry Soetoro, traveled to Indonesia with his mother when the Indonesian government recalled his stepfather.

In Indonesia, the family’s circumstances improved dramatically. According to Obama in his autobiography “Dreams from My Father,” Lolo’s brother-in-law was “making millions as a high official in the national oil company.” It was through this brother-in-law that Obama’s stepfather got a coveted job as a government relations officer with the Union Oil Co.

The family then moved to Menteng, then and now the most exclusive neighborhood of Jakarta, where bureaucrats, diplomats and economic elites reside.

A popular Indonesia travel site describes Menteng: “Designed by the Dutch Colonial Government in 1920s, Menteng still retains its graceful existence with its beautiful parks, cozy street cafes and luxurious housing complexes.”

In 1971, his mother sent young Obama back to Hawaii, where his grandmother, Madelyn, known as Toots, would become one of the first female vice presidents of a Honolulu bank. His grandfather was in sales.

Obama’s grandparents moved the same year into Punahou Circle Apartments, a sleek new 10-story apartment building just five blocks from the private Punahou School, which Obama would attend from 1971 to 1979.

Obama explains in “Dreams from My Father” that his admission to Punahou began “the start of something grand, an elevation in the family status that they took great pains to let everyone know.”

To his credit, Obama did not downplay Punahou’s upscale status, noting in his autobiography that it “had grown into a prestigious prep school, an incubator for island elites. Its reputation had helped sway my mother in her decision to send me back to the States.”

Obama also admitted in the book that his grandfather pulled strings to get him into the school. “There was a long waiting list, and I was considered only because of the intervention of Gramps’s boss, who was an alumnus.”

The school still features a lush hillside campus overlooking the Waikiki skyline and the Pacific Ocean. It was one of the most expensive schools on the island, and both Obama and his half sister Maya Soetoro-Ng received scholarships.

While the Dunhams were not among the wealthiest families on the island, he nevertheless studied and socialized with the children of the social and financial elite. Obama has said he didn’t fit in at the school. But that’s not how other Hawaiians remember it.

Associated Press writer Sudhin Thanawala reported from Honolulu in 2008 that “classmates and teachers say Obama blended in well. He served on the editorial board of the school’s literary magazine, played varsity basketball and sang in the choir. He went on the occasional date.”

In his recent book “Barack Obama: The Story,” Washington Post reporter David Maraniss said the future chief executive often smoked marijuana with prep school friends, rolling up the car windows to seek “total absorption,” or “TA.” They called themselves the “Choom Gang.”

Edward Shanahan, a retired newspaper journalist who now edits downstreet.net and makes no effort to conceal his admiration for Obama, retraced his Hawaii years shortly after the president was elected.

Shanahan wrote that Obama lived in a “well-off neighborhood near the University of Hawaii where Barry, as he was known, resided in a comfortable home with his mother and her parents before she took him to Indonesia.”

Sanahan said “our tour ended up on the lush, exquisitely maintained and altogether inviting campus of Punahou School, which we can imagine was a place of great comfort for Obama.”

Tellingly, Obama has never lived in a black neighborhood. Maraniss reported in his book that when leftist activist Jerry Kellman interviewed Obama for a community organizing job in Chicago, he asked Obama how he felt about living and working in the black community for the first time in his life.

Obama accepted the job but chose not to live among those he would be organizing. Instead, he commuted 90 minutes each way daily from his apartment in Chicago’s famous Hyde Park to the Altgeld Gardens housing project where he worked.

It was an early instance of Obama presenting himself one way while acting in quite a different way.

DURHAM, N.C. — First Lady Michelle Obama told North Carolina voters Wednesday that President Barack Obama is still feeling the pain of Americans, despite living in the cushy confines of the White House,

At a packed rally at North Carolina Central University, Mrs. Obama said her husband has struggled each and every day since he took office nearly four years ago to make life better for people.

“Barack Obama has been working every day since the day he took office,” she told an adoring crowd of 3,000 that greeted her with deafening cheers at the public historically black university. “He has been fighting for us. He has been struggling with us. And slowly but surely we have been pulling ourselves out of that hole we started in.”

President Barack Obama attended a fundraiser at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in Manhattan that featured a champagne tower of 350 bottles worth $105,000 – more than twice the median household income of an American family.

The tower of $300-a-bottle Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, known as ‘Ace of Spades’ because of its label, is a permanent fixture at the club.

‘It’s floor-to-ceiling gold bottles in the entire space,’ a 40/40 representative told the New York Post. ‘It’s beautiful—breathtaking. It’s the first thing you see when you walk in.’

The median income for an American family was $51,413 in 2011.

And the hip hop duo spoke of Obama’s vision:

At the 40/40 Club, the singer Beyonce introduced Obama and said that she and her husband Jay-Z ‘believe in his vision’.

He’s got an R11 driver, a Nike Dymo 3-wood, Nike’s VR Full Cavity irons, and two putters- a Ping Anser and an Odyssey White Ice.

And Obama also struggles with his meals. He struggles with Wagyu beef.

Can the Obama administration be anymore tone deaf? After pushing his $1.1 trillion Generational Theft Act of 2009 through the House last night, the White House apparently decided to throw itself a swank cocktail party. According to ABC’s Jake Tapper, the menu included alcoholic beverages (vodka martinis are an Obama favorite, reportedly) and wagyu steak.

Yeah, “wagyu steak.” $100 per serving delicacy. I had to look it up, too.

On the heels of the most expensive inaugural celebration in American history and passage of a trillion-dollar spending binge that will saddle future generations with unprecedented debt, perhaps President Obama might consider cutting back on such indulgences.

Michelle Obama successfully managed to rile U.S. taxpayers with her lavish $4m family jaunt to Hawaii this Christmas.

But it seems her expensive taste has not stopped there, as her vacation wardrobe has proved to be equally lavish.

Though the First Lady has only been spotted on a couple of occasions since arriving in Kailua, Oahu, some sartorial analysis of her fashion choices has revealed that her outfits have been consistently high-end.

A classic example, as spotted by the blog Naked DC, was the seemingly simple sundress she chose for a church service at the Kaneohe Bay Marine Base on Christmas Day.

The white frock with red and yellow stripes was certainly pretty and occasion-appropriate, but cheap, it most certainly was not.

A design by French-born, U.S.-based designer Sophie Theallet, who is a favourite with fashion insiders, it would have set Mrs Obama back almost $2,000 when she bought it in 2009.

More recent creations by Theallet sell for even higher figures, a mark-up likely triggered by demand following the First Lady’s endorsement of the label.

She deemed it necessary to change for her second photo op later that day, perhaps an opportunity to show off another pricey purchase.

Unreal.
Last month at the Kids’ Choice Awards, Michelle Obama wore an outfit designed by New York-based, uber-expensive designer, Wes Gordon. His clothing commands prices in the thousands of dollars and can only be found in the elite stores of the super wealthy. If you enjoy spending more than $4,000 on a pair of shorts…yes that is three zeroes after the comma…then you might like this little jacket from one of Michelle Obama’s favorite designers. It’s a steal for only $2,250. Of course, we never heard one peep out of the Liberal mainstream media on Michelle Obama’s high-priced clothing.

— President’s Day 2012, Michelle and the first daughters in Aspen, Colorado to ski.
— Christmas 2011, the first family in Hawaii for an extended vacation.
— Summer 2011, in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., for the annual beach break.
— June 2011, the first lady, her mother and daughters traveled to South Africa and Botswana.
— President’s Day 2011, the first lady and first daughters travel to Vail to ski.
— Christmas 2010, in Hawaii.
— August 2010, the first family traveled to Panama City Beach, Fla., for some sun and fun at the beach.
— August 2010, Obama spent the weekend alone in Chicago for his 49th birthday bash.
— August 2010, the first lady and daughter Sasha traveled to Spain for a mother-daughter vacation.
— August 2010, summer vacation again at Martha’s Vineyard.
— July 2010, the first family went to Mount Desert Island, Maine.
— May 2010, the first family had a four-day trip to Chicago.
— March 2010, first lady and daughter spend Spring Break in New York City.
— Christmas 2009, Hawaii again for the annual break.
— August 2009, at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon for a short vacation.
— August 2009, their first summer vacation as first family at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Who do you think costs more to support every year: the Queen of England or Barack Obama? If you guessed the Queen you are wrong by around $1,942,000,000. The citizens of Great Britain pony up approximately $58 million annually to support the Queen, a mere pittance compared to the $2 billion Americans spend supporting Barack Obama and his extravagant lifestyle. Presidential perks and budgets have been increasing steadily over the years, but no president has spent more on himself and his office than Barack Obama, and he has done this at a time when 23 million Americans are unemployed and America is carrying a $16 trillion debt. Apparently President Obama thinks leadership means living large while Americans suffer.

Is it because Obama believes himself to be King of America?

And there are some great questions in there:

How can a man worth more than $10 million who pays the staffer who walks the family dog $102,000 annually claim to be the candidate who understands the problems of the poor and unemployed? Should a man who travels on Air Force One with a crew of 26, including five chefs, be critical of Mitt Romney for being wealthy?

It is truly painful to watch the Obama’s struggle along with us. One almost wants to break down and weep for them.

About DrJohn

DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.

Aleric

retire05

Can these people ever tell the truth?

According to Barack and Michelles income taxes, they never paid enough in student loan debt to be able to claim the interest deduction. In 2000 though, just a couple of years after they were married, they did manage to pay $11,439.00 in mortgage interest. That was just interest, not principal and interest. Same with 2001, 2002 and 2003. No student loan interest was deducted from their income tax returns. Even assuming that their interest reepresented 60% of their mortgage payment, that means that they would have had to be paying almost $1,600 a month. Wouldn’t the interest on a student loan of over $1,600 a month, or almost $20K a year be worth deducting?

And how many married couples can afford a house where the payment is well over $1,500/month when they are first married? I can tell you; those who have now lost their homes to forclosures since Obama took office.

Redteam

@retire05: Your are correct. There are so many lies in moochelle’s stories, it is hard to point all of them out. You did hear the story about the car he had that was rusted through the door on the passenger side, to the point you could see the road through the hole. Cars made in the 80’s and 90’s are made with rust proofing, even in Chicago, they wouldn’t be rusting through the door, (besides, the leather or fabric on the door wouldn’t rust out and I’m sure you couldn’t see through it. There was something in the story above about Sr and Ann Dunham being married. There are no public records of that marriage or divorce, in Ha. They couldn’t have been legally married in any case because Sr was already married. Ann and EC weren’t living in Ha until she went to Indonesia, remember she was attending a Univ in Washington before EC was 1 year old. There are just so many lies.

Nan G

Her famous one shoulder black/white top in Spain.
One of my favorite things of all her pricy wardrobe.
It is by Jean Paul Gaultier but I’ve never seen it for sale anywhere.
Sort of similar are ~ $139.
But I guess it is ”last years’ fashion,” because you can’t find them at all.

Common Sense

johngalt

From the start of Obama’s presidency, the over-indulgence Obama and his wife have engaged in has been sickening. Especially so after Obama tells Americans they need to be more fiscally responsible.

-If I was as fiscally responsible as Obama, living by his example, I’d be out of a job, with a hefty mortgage that I couldn’t pay, and five new vehicles in the driveway just waiting for repossession. Along with maxxed out credit cards spilling from my wallet while I watch the nice new 70″ flatscreen I financed with it. Wagyu steaks overflowing from my freezer with a champagne pyramid sitting in my garage where I should be parking my car.

Yeah. No thanks. I’ll live within my means. Just like I expect the government to do with my tax money.

Mike C

Smorgasbord

Michelle likes the lifestyle she is living, and wants to do it for another four years. She has such a hectic sschedule that she needs 22 assistants to help her. The most that other first ladies had was three. Most only needed one.

Phil from Massachusetts

No but guys. It’s fine. Every time Barry and Mich travel on Air Force One, they sign a check to the government for the equivalent amount of TWO, count ’em, TWO First Class airline tickets. To steal a line from the liberal George W. Bush haters near the end of his presidency, “IF YOU AREN’T OUTRAGED, YOU AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION!”

Redteam

@Richard Wheeler: There are no reliable polls out there. I’m gonna guess that if I commissioned a poll to see how popular I am, I’m sure I could get a 66. Any poll published by news organizations are just EC worshipers.

TruePatriot57

I went to work at 14 and have worked ever since, most times 2 jobs. I have had 3 broken backs, 10 back surgeries, 16 other surgeries inc. hip replacements with a staph infection that left me bedridden without a hip longer than any paying job Obama ever had. Recently told I need neck surgery, but a cortisone shot has settled it well enough that after being asked to leave my sister in laws house in CA because my wife of 35 years has been faking unemployment claims for 15 months, going to school after being told by letter 3 weeks ago she MUST get her job search in order because she lost her unemployment for 3 months pending an appeal because she thought school benefits were guaranteed and found out they were tottally denied. All this while she has also worked 2 jobs for cash under the table, but not paying the bills.
When I objected to her going right back to school and ignoring the warning letter from the State of CA, I got the boot, so I loaded a truck, hooked up ‘her’ car which I purchased and have made the payments on, which she actually expected me to leave her and keep making them, and thursday I arrived in Minnesota, staying with my sons until I get a way to support myself completely, as I have been on SSDI for 10 yrs. I will go out this week and find enough of a part time job to keep me going. The funny part is she wanted me gone, Yet thursday called me to let me know they stopped her unemployment again, as they are dissatisfied with her job search and today has a telephone interview to let them know what she has been doing to find work, which is nothing. Even if she does get her unemployment back she has 3 months until out of extensions. She lives with her sister and brother in law, he is retired and she is a realtor, once owning a 15 agent firm that collapsed, and now it is sale to sale to stay ahead of the bills. Meanwhile they have not changed spending habbits, even borowing 200 bucks last month for groceries over and above what we already pay. Funny thing is they didn’t bring any groceries home, and they had room because they came home in a newly purchased 40K custom truck they just had to have, and needed to come up with 200 bucks to cover what they owed on his older truck (5 yrs) and bouth the new one zero down. Then they asked for more money. ya, right. So Obama don’t tell me what a tough life is. To protect my credit which I am recovering from a repo and rebuilding, I will have 700 dollars a month to live on pending VA benefits, which have been in process for 2 years by the people Obama employs to prtotect us working people. Screw you Obama, your programs have cost me my home, my savings, and now my wife after a lifetime of work.

Smokey Behr

ilovebeeswarzone

TruePatriot57
wow your spirit is admirable, and your tolerance is to the max,
and I say, your not one to ever give up, because you have a strength rarely seen,
and you are an example of it
thank you for your story, and they have abused your kindness, even your wife abused your love,
so being out of their lives is the cream on your cake, you must enjoy,
it will be sweeter as time goes by
best to you and having survived all hell you surely on the way up.
stay with us for the fun of it

ilovebeeswarzone

TuePatriot57
yes you have the right attitude, but watch where you land your kindness,
there always are those who look for people like you,
take my word, I know.
we have to learn to be selective, and it take time to see them abusers coming, they dress in lamb coats and hide among them
best to you.

TruePatriot57

Jeffery Sikes

What you are witnessing when Ms. Obama or her husband attempt to present the image they are from underprivileged upbringings, is their use of dialectics to create a false association with middle class Americans while demonizing wealthy (who they actually care about). It takes a vast sum of money now days to play in the political arena. People who live in the White House, don’t hang out with Billy bob and Martha sue, knocking back cold ones on a Friday night. Politics is a high stakes game, especially the White House. The Obamas hang out with Billionaires who are looking to increase their wealth, through kickbacks and special legislation.

I don’t think this last episode of Michelle staying behind in Hawaii was any thing near a birthday present. Usually a Wife remaining behind while a husband and his daughters return, indicates problems for the one staying behind. If I had to guess I would guess the issue is alcohol and or substance abuse. Hawaii was most likely chosen, to keep a lid on the situation, by keeping her away from cameras. We may discover that there is a fault Line in the Obama marriage which is manifesting itself as an alcoholic behavior issue. #1 rule in divorce, mom always gets the kids